Contempt of Court: Legal action against 52 dalit organizations following state-wide hartal

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has initiated a suo motu case against the organisers of the state-wide hartal called to protest the death of Nitin Raj, a BDS student at Anjarakandy Dental College. The hartal, which began at 6:00 AM and is scheduled to continue until 6:00 PM, was organised by an action council comprising 52 Dalit organisations.

The High Court intervened after the strike significantly disrupted public life. A vacation bench took up the matter after reports and footage emerged showing protesters blocking vehicles, including those transporting patients.

The court has sought an explanation from the State Government regarding the situation. Furthermore, the bench observed that the organisers had committed contempt of court by calling for the hartal. Consequently, the High Court Registry has been directed to issue formal notices to the organisers to initiate contempt proceedings.